The most bizarre coaching hire of the season came earlier today when it was announced that Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville would be leaving “smack-dab” (so to speak) in the middle of bowl preparation for the same job at Cincinnati. Tuberville never really fit in at TTU and his decision to move to a lesser job -- sorry, Cincy -- speaks volumes to just how uncomfortable he was in Lubbock.
On Saturday evening, Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock introduced Butch Jones’ replacement.
“I’m very proud to welcome Tommy, Suzanne, Tucker and Troy into our Bearcats family,” Babcock said in a release. “Coach Tuberville’s record speaks for itself over the past 17 seasons. It also speaks volumes to the visibility and leadership of our University that we were able to attract such an accomplished coach to lead our program into the future.”
Tuberville downplayed any report that his relationship with the TTU administration was strained in his three years in Lubbock during his introductory press conference. However, Texas Tech admins were reportedly “blindsided” by the move.
“I had a great home in Lubbock, Texas,” Tuberville said. “The people of west Texas are great people, they love football. Our football team played hard. ... But there was something when Whit called that I thought, ‘You know? Let me think about this.’”
Tuberville was 20-17 in three years with Texas Tech. He replaces Butch Jones, who resigned Friday to take the head coaching job at Tennessee.